Implantable pump

ABSTRACT

An implantable pump with a plurality of protrusions and grooves is described.

REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/725,711,filed on Dec. 2, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,601, which Applicationclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/430,200filed Dec. 2, 2002, both of which are fully incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

This invention generally relates to an implantable pump assembly forinflating a prosthesis. More particularly, the invention relates to apump assembly for an inflatable penile prosthesis.

One common treatment for male erectile dysfunction is the implantationof a penile prosthesis. Such a prosthesis typically includes a pair ofinflatable cylinders which are fluidly connected to a fluid (typicallyliquid) reservoir via a pump and valve assembly. The two cylinders arenormally implanted into the corpus cavernosae of the patient and, insome embodiments, a reservoir may be implanted in the patient's abdomen.The pump assembly is implanted in the scrotum. During use, the patientactuates the pump and fluid is transferred from the reservoir throughthe pump and into the cylinders. This results in the inflation of thecylinders and thereby produces the desired penis rigidity for a normalerection. Then, when the patient desires to deflate the cylinders, avalve assembly within the pump is actuated in a manner such that thefluid in the cylinders is released back into the reservoir. Thisdeflation then returns the penis to a flaccid state.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,446 discloses an implantable penile prosthesiscomprising a fluid reservoir, a pump and elongate cylindrical prostheticmembers. The pump includes an exterior surface with a plurality ofcircular ridges. The ridges are separated by grooves and extend aroundthe exterior surface of the pump in a continuous, uninterrupted fashion.The device is operated by grasping the scrotal sac and squeezing thepumping section of the pump through the scrotal sac wall. The ridges ofthe pumping section are said to prevent the pumping section fromslipping off the user's grasp during pumping. However, there is nostructure blocking movement of tissue relative to the pump along alongitudinal axis of a groove.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,509 discloses an inflatable penile prosthesis. Theprosthesis has an inflatable cylinder, a fluid reservoir, pump means andvalves.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,457 discloses an improved pressure control valve fora medical device. U.S. Pat No. 4,682,583 discloses an artificialsphincter. The sphincter includes a pump, a housing and a node.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,537,183, 5,851,176 and 5,167,611 disclose penileprostheses with a pump and a plurality of circular ridges.

The Alpha I® Inflatable Penile Prosthesis was sold in the United Statesmore than a year prior to the filing date of the present application byMentor of Santa Barbara, Calif. The Alpha I Prosthesis included a pumpassembly with a pump housing with release bars and a pump with aplurality of ridges that were separated by grooves that extended aroundthe exterior surface of the pump in a continuous, uninterrupted fashion.To return the prosthesis to a flaccid state, the user was instructed tofeel the protruding release bars and then squeeze them.

The continuous nature of the grooves and ridges is believed to present aproblem. There is no structure to block movement of tissue along adirection substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a groove.

The ridges of the Alpha prosthesis are relatively thin and are spacedclose together. Grooves between the ridges provide very little room fortissue to extrude into. This is undesirable as squeezing tissue into thegrooves is believed to help anchor the pump to the tissue during the actof squeezing. FIG. 1A depicts ribs of a prior art Alpha device. Oneridge was measured with an average width of about 0.024 inches and adepth of about 0.029 inches. The grooves tend to be somewhat small. Onegroove was measured with an average width of about 0.034 inches. FIG. 1Ashows an area 1′ between ribs 2′ of a prior art Alpha prosthesis pump.This area was measured as 0.0012 square inches. There is very littlearea between the ribs 2′. This small area is not optimal for affordingtissue to extrude between the ribs when the patients squeezes tissue tocompress the pump bulb

The outer surfaces of the ridges of the Alpha I prosthesis tend to berounded, with a large radius at the top. One radius was measured at0.012 inches. This is also believed to be a problem as the rounded tipsdo not afford optimal tissue purchase and can result in tissue slidingoff the tip of the ridge.

The Mark II® Inflatable Penile Prosthesis was sold in the United Statesmore than a year prior to the filing date of the present application byMentor of Santa Barbara, Calif. This device included a pump assemblyincluding a resipump and a release ring.

The Mark II prosthesis has a single squeeze pump. The size of the pumplimits the pressure that can be transmitted to the cylinders andtherefore limits the stiffness of the cylinder. The Mark II cylinder isbelieved to afford a much less stiff cylinder than the Alpha I cylinder.

The release ring of the Mark II includes a plurality of ribs. Again,these ribs are rounded and slippery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention includes an improved protrusion andgroove system for an implantable pump. The protrusion and groove systemaffords space for tissue to extrude into and surfaces to block movementof the implant relative to tissue in three mutually perpendiculardirections. In preferred embodiments, the protrusions are discontinuousand have edges that block movement in a direction substantially parallelto a longitudinal axis of the grooves. Also preferably, the protrusionshave less rounded tips than prior art ribs to afford greater tissuepurchase and a firmer grasp of the implantable pump.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a pump assembly for animplantable prosthesis. The pump assembly comprises a housing includinga valve assembly, and a pump bulb that is squeezable through tissue. Thepump bulb has a plurality of discrete, discontinuous, spaced apartprotrusions. The protrusions are sized, shaped and arranged to resistrelative movement between tissue and the implantable prosthesis when thepump bulb is squeezed. The protrusions comprise shaped structuresselected from the group consisting of oval, linear, elliptical,circular, polygonal, triangular and combinations thereof.

In another aspect, the pump assembly comprises a housing including avalve assembly, and a pump bulb having a plurality of protrusions with alongitudinal axes. The protrusions are arranged to be spaced apart by aplurality of grooves with longitudinal axes. The protrusions have endsthat separate the protrusions from each other. The ends preferably formchannels having longitudinal axes extending at angles relative to thelongitudinal axes of the grooves. In one embodiment, the angles areapproximately ninety degrees. The protrusions have tip portions and thedistance between tip portions of adjacent protrusions is preferablygreater than 0.05 inches. The tip portions have rounds and the roundspreferably have a radius of less than about 0.012 inches. Morepreferably, the rounds have a radius of less than about 0.006 inches.

In one embodiment, the ends of the protrusions form a channel with alongitudinal axis that is configured at an angle relative to thelongitudinal axes of the protrusions. In one embodiment, the angle isapproximately ninety degrees. In another, it is approximately,forty-five degrees.

In another aspect, the present invention comprises a pump assembly for aprosthesis that is implantable in tissue. The pump assembly comprises ahousing including a valve assembly, a pump bulb having a plurality ofprotrusions spaced apart by grooves, wherein the protrusions and grooveshave structure capable of blocking movement of the prosthesis relativeto the tissue in three dimensions.

In yet another aspect, the present invention comprises an implantablepenile prosthesis. The device comprises a reservoir for storing fluid; apump assembly in fluid communication with the reservoir; and a pair ofcylinders in fluid communication with the pump assembly. The pumpassembly comprises a housing including a valve assembly. The housing isadapted to be deformed to operate the valve assembly. The housing has atleast three protrusions, and a pump bulb.

In another aspect, the present invention comprises an implantable penileprosthesis comprising a reservoir for storing fluid; a pump assembly influid communication with the reservoir, and a pair of cylinders in fluidcommunication with the pump assembly. The pump assembly comprises a pumpbulb; a bar shaped housing including a valve assembly. The housing isadapted to be deformed to operate the valve assembly. The housing hasend portions and side portions. Each end portion has at least oneprotrusion. The side portions have a side bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of pump assembly accordingto one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a schematic depiction of a portion of a prior art pump for apenile prosthesis;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is an end view of a component according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pump bulb component of the pumpassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the pump assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of one embodiment of valve assembly for usewith the present invention, taken approximately along lines A-A of FIG.6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another embodiment of valve assembly foruse with the present invention, which could also be taken approximatelyalong lines A-A of FIG. 6

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another component of a pump assemblyaccording to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another component of a pump assemblyaccording to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of some of the protrusions shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a front view of a pump bulb component according to anotheraspect of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the component of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a pump bulb component according toanother aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a front view of the component of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the component of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a pump bulb component according toanother aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a pump bulb component according toanother aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a front view of the component of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a side view of the component of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a pump bulb component according toanother aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a pump housing component according toanother aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a pump housing component according toanother aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a pump housing component according toanother aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a sketch of a cross-sectional view of protrusions accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25A is a side view of a pump bulb according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25B is a sectional view of the pump bulb of FIG. 25A;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a pump housing component according toanother aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is an side view of the protrusions of FIG. 11;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of another aspect of pump assemblyaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of another aspect of pump assemblyaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of another aspect of pump assemblyaccording to the present invention;,

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of another aspect of pump assemblyaccording to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a side view of FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is a sectional view taken approximately along lines 33-33 ofFIG. 32, which sectional view shows the pump assembly in an autodeflate/lock-out position;

FIG. 34 is a sectional view taken approximately along lines 33-33 ofFIG. 32, which sectional view shows the pump assembly in an activesuction/pumping position;

FIG. 35 is a sectional view of another embodiment of pump assemblyaccording to the present invention, which view shows a sphere in adeflate/lockout position with dashed lines and in an active (pumping)position in solid lines;

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of housingwith protrusions according to the present invention;

FIG. 37 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the housing of FIG. 36;

FIG. 39 is another perspective view of the housing of FIG. 36; and

FIG. 40 is another perspective view of the housing of FIG. 36.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, there is shown an embodiment of pumpassembly 10 according to an aspect of the present invention. The pumpassembly 10 includes a pump bulb 12 having a plurality of protrusions 14with a longitudinal axes L (FIG. 2). The protrusions 12 are spaced apartby a plurality of grooves G with longitudinal axes A. Preferably, theprotrusions 14 have ends 15 that separate the protrusions 14 from eachother.

The pump assembly 10 is adapted to be in fluid communication with areservoir via tube 9. The pump assembly 10 is adapted to be in fluidcommunication with implantable inflatable members via tubes 7.

The protrusion ends 15 form channels C having longitudinal axes A′extending at angles relative to the longitudinal axes A of the groovesG. Preferably the angle is approximately ninety degrees, but otherangles are also contemplated herein. Also preferably, the ends 15 faceeach other across channels C.

The protrusions 14 facilitate traction on the pump bulb 12 and resistmovement of the bulb 12 relative to tissue in multiple directions asforce is applied to compress bulb 12. Preferably the protrusions 15resist slipping latitudinally as well as longitudinally.

The protrusions, grooves, and channels are sized shaped and arranged toafford efficient interaction with tissue. Preferably, the protrusionshelp direct the application of force to desired areas, afford tactilelocation and fixation within tissue (e.g. of the scrotum). A variety offactors affect protrusion performance, including the material comprisingthe protrusions, their width, their height, and shape including crosssectional shape. In general, the protrusions should be robust enough tohold the pump assembly substantially stationary relative to tissueduring operation of an implant associated with the pump assembly 10. Theprotrusions 14 should be sufficiently flexible to avoid undulyirritating tissue.

As an example, not intended to be limiting, the protrusion may compriseshaped structures selected from the group consisting of oval, linear,elliptical, circular, polygonal, triangular and combinations thereof.

The pump bulb 12 is preferably is squeezable through tissue (e.g.scrotal tissue or other tissue). Preferably, the protrusions 14 aresized, shaped and arranged to resist relative movement between tissueand the implantable prosthesis when the pump bulb 12 is squeezed. Alsopreferably, the protrusions 14 and grooves G have structure capable ofblocking movement of the implantable prosthesis relative to tissue inthree mutually perpendicular directions.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 27, there is shown an embodiment ofprotrusion 14 according to a preferred aspect of the present invention.In a preferred embodiment, the protrusions are constructed from 50-55durometer silicone elastomer, available from Nusil of California. Anysuitable medical grade materials may be utilized, such as, but nolimited to silicone rubber (e.g. polydimethyl siloxane), thermosetmaterials, Thermoset or thermoplastic urethanes, C-flex, santoprenethermoplastics and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 25, there is shown another sketch of a protrusionand groove assembly according to the present invention. In oneembodiment, the protrusions 14′ have a width W at the tip of about 0.04inches, a height H of about 0.04 inches, and the tip edges have a radiusR′ of about 0.005 inches. The groove has a length L″ between tips ofabout 0.065 inches with a valley radius V of about 0.015 inches. FIGS.25A and 25B are engineering drawings of a preferred embodiment of theprotrusions, with preferred dimensions shown in inches.

The radius R′ of the tips of the protrusions 14 is preferably small(e.g. less than 0.012 inches), more preferably, they are less than about0.006 inches. When the user squeezes the pump bulb, it is believed thatforces in tissue are concentrated at or near the edges of the tips ofthe protrusions. This is believed to assist in providing stability forthe pump assembly 10. However, the radius should not be so small as todamage or unduly irritate tissue.

The pump assembly also includes a housing 16 that includes a valveassembly. In general, some portion of the housing 16 is deflectable ordeformed to actuate the valve assembly. The valve assembly may compriseany suitable valve assembly including, but not limited to, those valveassemblies disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/453,684,filed Mar. 10, 2003, 60/508,123 filed Oct. 2, 2003; 60/507,973, filedOct. 2,2003, and 60/507,975, filed Oct. 2, 2003; published U.S. patentapplication Nos. 2002-91302-A1, 2002-82709-A1; 2002-82708-A1;2002-82473-A1; and 2002-82471-A1; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,443,887 and6,533,719. Various components useable in conjunction with the presentinvention are also disclosed in the previously mentioned applicationsand U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/507,972 and 60/507,974 whichwere filed Oct. 2, 2003.

The valve assembly may also comprise the valve assemblies associatedwith the Mark II Inflatable Penile Prosthesis and the Alpha I InflatablePenile Prosthesis, each available from Mentor Corp. Examples of valveassemblies are also disclosed in U.S. Pat Nos. 4,566,466 and 4,537,183.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown an embodiment of valve assembly20. This example of valve assembly includes a spring biased poppet orball valve 22, a spring biased suction poppet 24 and fluid passageways26 for communicating with a pump bulb 12A, inflatables 28 (e.g. penileprosthesis cylinders) and a fluid reservoir 29.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of valve assembly 20B suitable for usewith the present invention. This example of valve assembly includes aspring biased poppet or ball valve 22B, a fluid bypass chamber 21, lipseal 23, ball valve 27, a spring biased suction poppet 24B and fluidpassageways 26B for communicating with pump bulb 12B, inflatables 28B(e.g. penile prosthesis cylinders) and a fluid reservoir 29B.

The housing 16 also includes protrusions 18. The protrusions 18 shouldafford stabilization of the implant within tissue (e.g. the scrotum),afford tactile feedback to the patient and assist the patient inactuating the valve assembly.

The housing 16 is preferably bar shaped as shown in FIGS. 1-6, with endportions and side portions. Preferably, the end portions have at leastthree protrusions 18 total, preferably more. FIG. 4A is an engineeringdrawing of a preferred embodiment showing preferred dimensions forprotrusions according to one embodiment of the present invention. Theprotrusions 18 have a preferred height of about 0.040 inches.

The housing 16 preferably includes two elongate sidebars or stabilizingfins 19 on the side portions. The fins 19 are sized, shaped andpositioned to assist the patient in accessing and/or holding onto thepump. In some instances, the pump may tend to elevate relative to thepatient's scrotum. In such cases, a patient may reach up to grab thepump and pull it down to access either the inflation or deflation area.Some patients lack manual dexterity. Such patients use two hands toinflate and/or deflate—one hand to hold the pump in place and one handto either inflate or deflate. If the pump is constructed of a siliconeelastomer (or other similar materials) and bathed in body fluids, thepump can be very slippery and hard to grasp. The fins 19 enhance thepatient's grip on the side of the pump to pull it down and/or to holdonto the pump. The fins 19 operate in a manner similar to the way theprotrusions on the bulb and deflation area operate to enhance thepatient's grip for inflation and deflation. In a preferred embodiment,the fins 19 have a width of about 0.07 inches, a height of about 0.08inches and a length of about 0.55 inches.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of portions of a pump assemblyhousing 50 that is similar to the housing 16 in FIG. 4, except thatprotrusions 18A are straight instead of arcuate shaped.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show another embodiment of component or portion of pumpbulb 12C according to the present invention. In this embodiment, theprotrusions 14C are oval shaped rather than linear. The protrusions 14Cand intervening grooves/valleys are believed to resist slippage in threemutually perpendicular directions.

FIGS. 14 through 16 show another embodiment of component or portion ofpump bulb 12D according to the present invention. In this embodiment,the protrusions 14D are a combination of straight and arcuate shapedstructures. The straight protrusions afford a relative sharpconfiguration at its top.

FIG. 17 shows a pump bulb 12E with circular protrusions 14E. Theprotrusions and intervening grooves/valleys are believed to resistslippage in three mutually perpendicular directions.

FIGS. 18 through 20 show a pump bulb 12F with generally ellipticallyshaped protrusions 14F.

FIG. 21 shows a pump bulb 12G with substantially linearly extendingprotrusions 14G with ends 15G.

FIG. 22 shows a portion of a pump housing 16H and a plurality ofprotrusions 18H. Preferably, the tips of the protrusions 18H arerelatively sharp but so sharp that they unduly irritate or damagetissue.

FIG. 23 shows a portion of a pump housing 161 and a plurality ofprotrusions 181.

FIG. 24 shows a portion of a pump housing 16J and a plurality ofprotrusions 18J.

FIG. 26 shows a portion of a pump housing 16L and a plurality ofprotrusions 18L. The protrusions comprise a maze shaped protrusion 18Land a plurality of partial sphere shaped protrusions 18L′.

FIG. 28 shows another embodiment of pump assembly ION according to thepresent invention. The pump assembly ION includes a pump bulb 12N withprotrusions 14N having ends 15N, pump housing 16N and protrusions 18N.

Notably, the pump bulb need not be on the same side of the pump housingas the connection to the inflatable members and reservoir. FIG. 29 showsa pump assembly 10P includes a pump bulb 12P with protrusions 14P havingends 15P, pump housing 16P and fluid connectors 7P and 9P.

Also notably, the grooves and channels for the protrusions need not beat right angles or continuous. FIG. 30 shows a pump assembly 10Q thatincludes a pump bulb 12Q with protrusions 14Q having ends 15Q, pumphousing 16Q and fluid connectors 7Q and 9Q. The axis A of grooves G′formed by the protrusions 14Q is at a non-normal angle relative to theaxis A′ of channels C′.

Referring now to FIGS. 31 through 34, there is shown another embodimentof pump assembly 10X according to the present invention. The pumpassembly includes fluid communication members 7X and 9X, pump bulb 12X,housing 16X, protrusions 18X and internal valve sphere 99. FIG. 34 is across section view of the pump assembly in the active suction/pumpingposition. FIG. 33 is a cross sectional view of the pump assembly in theauto deflate/lock-out position.

A well defined concave protrusion 18X is shown comprising a raisedpalpable button for locating the auto deflate area. In the activeposition, the sphere 99 blocks the deflate fluid channel and preventspressurized fluid in the cylinders (see line 9X) returning to thereservoir (see line 7X). In the auto-deflate position, pressurized fluidin the cylinders is allowed to return to the reservoir unassisted by thepatient holding the pump to obtain maximum flaccidity, the patient needonly bend or squeeze the cylinders without manipulating the pump.Alternatively, a square deflation feature may be utilized.

FIG. 35 is a sectional view of another embodiment. In this figure, thesphere 99A is shown in a deflate/lockout position with dashed lines andan active (pumping) position with solid lanes.

Referring now to FIGS. 36-40, there is shown another embodiment ofhousing 100 according to the present invention. The housing 100 includesprotrusions 112. The housing 100 is particularly suitable forincorporating valve assemblies similar to those described with referenceto FIGS. 31-35.

The housing 100 may advantageously be molded as a one-piece (e.g.integral or monolithic) part. To this end, the housing 100 preferablyincludes live hinges 111 that may be incorporated into the design/mold.Medical grade adhesives may be used to hold the live hinges in a closedor sealed position.

Various embodiments have been shown and describe protrusions andgrooves. It is to be understood that though these embodiments have beenshown and described in isolation, various features of each embodimentcan be combined with the others to produce a variety of embodiments.

All patents, patent applications and journal articles cited herein areexpressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a pumpand valve assembly for a penile implant, the use of the presentinvention has many other applications within the scope and spirit of thepresent invention. For example, artificial sphincters utilize fluidpressure to maintain a body cavity or natural passageway in a closed orsealed state. When actuated, fluid pressure is released from thesphincter, causing the bodies' passageway to open. As such, the presentinvention may be utilized with an artificial sphincter as well.

Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the presentinvention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing fromthe spirit or central attributes thereof. In that the foregoingdescription of the present invention discloses only exemplaryembodiments thereof, it is to be understood that other variations arecontemplated as being within the scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the present invention is not limited in the particularembodiments which have been described in detail therein. Rather,reference should be made to (he appended claims as indicative of thescope and content of the present invention.

1. A pump assembly for an implantable prosthesis, the pump assemblycomprising: a bar shaped housing including a valve assembly, the barshaped housing being adapted to be deformed to operate the valveassembly, the bar shaped housing having end portions and side portions,each end portion having at least one protrusion and the side portionhaving a side bar, a compressible pump bulb that is squeezable throughtissue and that extends from the bar shaped housing, the pump bulbcomprising an outer surface and an inner surface that defines achangeable inner volume of the pump bulb, wherein the pump bulbcomprises a plurality of discrete, discontinuous, spaced apartprotrusions extending from the outer surface of the pump bulb, andwherein the protrusions are sized, shaped and arranged to resistrelative movement between tissue and the implantable prosthesis when thepump bulb is squeezed.
 2. A pump according to claim 1 wherein theprotrusions comprise shaped structures selected from the groupconsisting of oval, linear, elliptical, circular, polygonal, triangularand combinations thereof.
 3. A pump assembly for an implantableprosthesis, the pump assembly comprising: a bar shaped housing includinga valve assembly, the bar shaped housing being adapted to be deformed tooperate the valve assembly, the bar shaped housing having end portionsand side portions, each end portion having at least one protrusion andthe side portion having a side bar, a compressible pump bulb extendingfrom the bar shaped housing and comprising an outer surface and an innersurface that defines a changeable inner volume of the pump bulb, theouter surface having a plurality of protrusions with a longitudinalaxes, the protrusions being arranged to be spaced apart by a pluralityof grooves with longitudinal axes, and wherein the protrusions have endsthat separate the protrusions from each other.
 4. A pump assemblyaccording to claim 3 wherein the ends form channels having longitudinalaxes extending at angles relative to the longitudinal axes of thegrooves.
 5. A pump assembly according to claim 4 wherein the angles areapproximately ninety degrees.
 6. A pump assembly according to claim 3wherein the protrusions have tip portions and the distance between tipportions of adjacent protrusions is greater than 0.05 inches.
 7. A pumpassembly according to claim 3 wherein the protrusions have tip portionswith rounds and the rounds have a radius of less than about 0.012inches.
 8. A pump assembly according to claim 7 wherein the rounds havea radius of less than about 0.006 inches.
 9. A pump assembly accordingto claim 3 wherein the space between protrusions has a cross sectionalarea greater than about 0.0014 square inches.
 10. A pump assemblyaccording to claim 3 wherein protrusions have a height of greater than0.04 inches.
 11. A pump assembly according to claim 3 wherein pumpassembly is constructed from silicone.
 12. A pump assembly according toclaim 3 wherein the protrusions are substantially linear.
 13. A pumpassembly according to claim 3 wherein the ends of adjacent protrusionsare spaced apart at least 0.08 inches.
 14. A pump assembly according toclaim 3 wherein the ends of the protrusions form a channel with alongitudinal axis that is configured at an angle relative to thelongitudinal axes of the protrusions.
 15. A pump assembly according toclaim 14 wherein the angle is approximately ninety degrees.
 16. A pumpassembly for a prosthesis that is implantable in tissue, the pumpassembly comprising: a bar shaped housing including a valve assembly,the bar shaped housing having end portions each having at least oneprotrusion thereon, the bar shaped housing further having side portionseach having at least one sidebar thereon, the sidebar being orientedperpendicular to at least one protrusion, a compressible pump bulbextending from the bar shaped housing and comprising an outer surfaceand an inner surface that defines a changeable inner volume of the pumpbulb, the outer surface having a plurality of protrusions spaced apartby grooves, wherein the protrusions and grooves have structure capableof blocking movement of the prosthesis relative to the tissue in threedimensions.
 17. An implantable penile prosthesis comprising: a reservoirfor storing fluid; a pump assembly in fluid communication with thereservoir; a pair of cylinders in fluid communication with the pumpassembly, the pump assembly comprising: a bar shaped housing including avalve assembly, the housing being adapted to be deformed to operate thevalve assembly, and having end portions and side portions; the housinghaving at least three protrusions, wherein each end portion has at leastone protrusion and the side potion has a side bar; and a compressiblepump bulb extending from the housing and comprising an outer surface andan inner surface that defines a changeable inner volume of the pumpbulb, the outer surface having a plurality of discrete, discontinuous,spaced-apart protrusions.
 18. A pump assembly according to claim 1,wherein the valve assembly housing is to be deformed to operate thevalve assembly.